Future Research Directions Research Articles

New Horizons in Understanding and Developing Treatments for Human Reproductive Physiology

This comprehensive review delves into the cutting-edge advancements and emerging trends in the field of human reproductive physiology. It aims to shed light on the intricate processes governing human reproduction and the novel therapeutic approaches being developed to address various reproductive health issues. The review begins with a detailed exploration of the fundamental aspects of human reproductive systems, including hormonal regulation, gametogenesis, and the genetic underpinnings of reproductive functions. Significant attention is given to recent breakthroughs in treating infertility, highlighting new findings in both male and female reproductive health. The review discusses the evolution and current state of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF, and their increasingly successful application in overcoming infertility. Furthermore, it explores the potential of personalized medicine in tailoring treatments to individual reproductive disorders, considering genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Innovations in contraceptive technologies and their implications for reproductive health management are also examined. The review extends into the realm of reproductive genetics, emphasizing how genomic studies have enhanced our understanding of reproductive disorders and congenital anomalies. Ethical, social, and legal considerations surrounding the latest reproductive technologies are critically analyzed, recognizing the complex interplay between scientific advancements and societal norms. The review concludes by identifying future research directions, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in advancing our understanding and treatment of human reproductive physiology. This article serves as a vital resource for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers, offering a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future prospects in human reproductive health and medicine.

A survey of Polish ASR speech datasets

Abstract Access to speech datasets is essential for the effective use of modern ASR systems in low-resource languages like Polish. However, the lack of centralized information and metadata describing available datasets poses a significant challenge to researchers and practitioners. In this paper, we address this issue by presenting the most comprehensive survey of Polish ASR speech datasets to date. We manually curated information on 53 publicly available datasets and annotated them with 61 attributes, providing a comprehensive catalog of these resources. The catalog facilitates the discovery and evaluation of available datasets, enabling researchers to identify datasets that suit their specific needs. It also enables the identification of gaps in the existing datasets, which may inform future research directions. The catalog is open and community-driven, which means that new data sets can be added and issues can be reported, ensuring its continued relevance and usefulness to the ASR community. Our work contributes to improving the accessibility and usability of ASR systems in low-resource languages such as Polish.

Process of Self-Leadership: Establishing Yourself as Leader No Matter Your Role

As the field of early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) focuses intently on building, supporting, and sustaining leaders across varying contexts and roles, this study introduced the concept of self-leadership to EI/ECSE self-identified leaders. The research explores differences in self-rated skills based on role, analyzes themes of goals for developing self-leadership skills, and analyzes the measurability of goals set by participants. Fifty-six participants completed the Abbreviated Self-Leadership Questionnaire (ASLQ) (Houghton, Dawley, & DiLiello, 2012), self-rated their own skills, and identified leadership goals. Results show that participants scored themselves highest on evaluating beliefs and assumptions about self-leadership. Self-identified goals resulted in three primary themes (administrative tasks, relationship building and coaching, and growth in learning). Directions for future research, policy, and recommendations for practice are discussed.

Achieving sustainable development with sustainable packaging: A natural‐resource‐based view perspective

AbstractSustainable packaging is a pivotal aspect of sustainable development, involving multi‐faceted issues such as stakeholder management and environmental policy compliance. Despite the efforts to find packaging solutions, the extant literature is largely fragmented, featuring a high level of heterogeneity among studies that spread across different disciplines, with the majority examining important packaging issues in isolation. A study that systematically consolidates findings of different important areas of sustainable packaging implementation is lacking. This challenges companies' adoption of research findings in business strategy development. Thus, this paper conducts a systematic literature review combining keyword co‐occurrence analysis, thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis to uncover major research domains, consolidate important findings and reveal unsolved research gaps, which are crucial to advancing sustainable packaging management. The findings reveal four major research domains: (1) sustainable packaging materials and properties, (2) management practices of sustainable packaging, (3) consumer behaviours towards sustainable packaging and (4) packaging waste management. Drawing on the natural‐resource‐based view (NRBV) theory and the review findings, this study proposes four future research directions: (1) identifying ways to enhance the commercialisation of sustainable packaging technological innovations, (2) uncovering reasons for insufficient social aspect investigation in sustainable packaging research, (3) exploring strategies to enhance stakeholder integration in sustainable packaging management and (4) examining contingency factors of packaging waste management effectiveness. The research agenda is important to provide practical and managerial insights for business strategy development in sustainable packaging to achieve pollution prevention, product stewardship and sustainable development capabilities to gain future growth and competitive advantage.

Home advantage and the influence of officiating decisions

Even after decades of research, it is largely unclear how the various factors that cause the home advantage act and interact with one another. This paper provides an updated narrative review of the home advantage in sports, with a particular interest in the impact of refereeing. We used multiple sources for data collection and limited our search to peer-reviewed journals. Detailed information was extracted and documented from each of the retrieved articles. Bibliometric data were also calculated and assessed to evaluate the evolution of research in this field. The findings of this review show that home advantage is elevated in certain type of sports and due to properties of the crowd. In particular, the social pressure of the home crowds has direct and indirect effects on both home advantage and referee bias. Studies on games played in empty stadiums provided significant evidence for a reduced referee bias, and a decline in athlete-related variables. Several potential directions for future research emerged from this review. More research on the home advantage in women's sports, in individual sports, and at lower levels of play is warranted. These efforts will contribute to further extend our understanding of this fascinating phenomenon.

Research Progress in Nanoparticle Inhibitors for Crude Oil Asphaltene Deposition.

Currently, the alteration of external factors during crude oil extraction easily disrupts the thermodynamic equilibrium of asphaltene, resulting in the continuous flocculation and deposition of asphaltene molecules in crude oil. This accumulation within the pores of reservoir rocks obstructs the pore throat, hindering the efficient extraction of oil and gas, and consequently, affecting the recovery of oil and gas resources. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the principles of asphaltene deposition inhibition and the synthesis of asphaltene inhibitors. In recent years, the development of nanotechnology has garnered significant attention due to its unique surface and volume effects. Nanoparticles possess a large specific surface area, high adsorption capacity, and excellent suspension and catalytic abilities, exhibiting unparalleled advantages compared with traditional organic asphaltene inhibitors, such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and salicylic acid. At present, there are three primary types of nanoparticle inhibitors: metal oxide nanoparticles, organic nanoparticles, and inorganic nonmetal nanoparticles. This paper reviews the recent advancements and application challenges of nanoparticle asphaltene deposition inhibition technology based on the mechanism of asphaltene deposition and nano-inhibitors. The aim was to provide insights for ongoing research in this field and to identify potential future research directions.

Research Progress on the Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Water by Activated Persulfate Using Biochar-Loaded Nano Zero-Valent Iron.

Biochar (BC) is a new type of carbon material with a high specific surface area, porous structure, and good adsorption capacity, which can effectively adsorb and enrich organic pollutants. Meanwhile, nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) has excellent catalytic activity and can rapidly degrade organic pollutants through reduction and oxidation reactions. The combined utilization of BC and nZVI can not only give full play to their advantages in the adsorption and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants, but also help to reduce the agglomeration of nZVI, thus improving its efficiency in water treatment and providing strong technical support for water resources protection and environmental quality improvement. This article provides a detailed introduction to the preparation method and characterization technology, reaction mechanism, influencing factors, and specific applications of BC and nZVI, and elaborates on the research progress of BC-nZVI in activating persulfate (PS) to degrade organic pollutants in water. It has been proven experimentally that BC-nZVI can effectively remove phenols, dyes, pesticides, and other organic pollutants. Meanwhile, in response to the existing problems in current research, this article proposes future research directions and challenges, and summarizes the application prospects and development trends of BC-nZVI in water treatment. In summary, BC-nZVI-activated PS is an efficient technology for degrading organic pollutants in water, providing an effective solution for protecting water resources and improving environmental quality, and has significant application value.

Teachers’ Emotion Regulation Strategies in Online Teaching Mode

Online teaching mode has been prevalent during the COVID-19 period, which brings both advantages and challenges for teachers. The challenges associated with online teaching have resulted in negative emotional experiences for teachers and led to adverse consequences. However, there is limited research on how teachers use emotion regulation strategies in online teaching environments. Drawing on Gross’s emotion regulation model, this study evaluates the applicability of two major emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) in the context of online education. The findings indicate that traditional emotion regulation strategies are partially effective but also have certain limitations. Consequently, this paper proposes mindfulness as an emerging emotion regulation strategy that holds promise for addressing the challenges in online education. It emphasizes the significance of understanding teacher emotions in online teaching and provides suggestions and directions for future research.

When mass meets prestige: The impact of symbolic motivations, inspirations, and purchase intentions for Masstige products

Luxury brands are increasingly targeting the middle class through ‘masstige marketing’ as the trendy business opportunity,' which combines luxury and mass appeal. This strategy aims to make high-end brands more accessible to a wider audience, catering to the desires and preferences of the middle class. Grounded in the Mass Prestige (Masstige) theory, this study examines the direct and indirect impact of Symbolic motivations (snob, Veblen, and bandwagon) on Masstige Purchase Intention (MPI) via Inspiration Towards Masstige (ITM) as a mediator. Moreover, the contingent impact of Brand Credibility (BC) between ITM and MPI was assessed. Two independent studies were conducted among consumers of clothing and car brands. Results supported all the hypothesized paths reflecting symbolic motivations as important predictors of MPI directly and through the underlying mechanism of ITM. However, significant differences were observed in the impact size of the Veblen and bandwagon motivations on ITM and MPI among clothing and car brand consumers. Moreover, results revealed that BC significantly interacts with ITM to augment the MPI in both studies. However, this contingent impact was stronger to enhance MPI among the consumers of car brands than clothing brands. Furthermore, study implications and future research directions are presented in detail.

A human-centred review on maritime autonomous surfaces ships: impacts, responses, and future directions

ABSTRACT Maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) are transforming the future of maritime transport. They are expected to shoulder important roles in seaborne trade and maritime resilience. As the primary operator of traditional ships and a significant component of maritime transport, seafarers are inevitably directly and indirectly affected by levels of automation introduced into the shipping space. Therefore, in addition to increasing attention to automated system designs, a holistic understanding of human elements in MASS operations is necessary. The current research (1) reviews human-centred MASS research, (2) categorises MASS impacts on seafarers, and (3) summarises responses to prepare seafarers for this emerging technology. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, a total of 101 articles were collected from Scopus. The systematic review reveals that MASS impacts seafarers from the following dimensions: employment, task contents, requisite skills, and human risks. Moreover, regulations and education frameworks can be adapted to respond to changes in seafarer demand and supply. Future research directions are also proposed and can serve as recommendations for future human-centred research on MASS. The research findings enhance the understanding of seafarer elements in MASS operations and provide policy implications for future seafarer management.

Procedural Content Generation via Knowledge Transformation (PCG-KT)

We introduce the concept of Procedural Content Generation via Knowledge Transformation (PCG-KT), a new lens and framework for characterizing PCG methods and approaches in which content generation is enabled by the process of knowledge transformation—transforming knowledge derived from one domain in order to apply it in another. Our work is motivated by a substantial number of recent PCG works that focus on generating novel content via repurposing derived knowledge. Such works have involved, for example, performing transfer learning on models trained on one game's content to adapt to another game's content, as well as recombining different generative distributions to blend the content of two or more games. Such approaches arose in part due to limitations in PCG via Machine Learning (PCGML) such as producing generative models for games lacking training data and generating content for entirely new games. In this paper, we categorize such approaches under this new lens of PCG-KT by offering a definition and framework for describing such methods and surveying existing works using this framework. Finally, we conclude by highlighting open problems and directions for future research in this area.

Examining the Uncertainties Surrounding Exosome Therapy in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Call for Evidence-Based Practice.

Hair loss, a pervasive and often distressing condition, affects a substantial number of individuals globally. Although conventional treatments such as hair transplantation, topicals, oral medications, and injectables exist, they have limitations, including the necessity for repeated treatments, potential adverse effects, and cost barriers. Exosome therapy, an innovative and burgeoning option within regenerative medicine, offers a novel approach to hair loss treatment. Exosomes are small vesicles that are produced from the membranes of late-endosomes and secreted by cells, playing a crucial role in intercellular communication. Research on humans is limited,1-4 and animal studies have shown that exosomes derived from various cell types can stimulate hair growth, resulting in increased research and development of exosome therapy for hair loss.5 Establishing a uniform reporting method for exosome therapy is vital as research in this area continues to expand. A standardized approach to research reporting and results is essential for comprehending the underlying mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of exosome therapy. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of exosome therapy for hair loss, including potential advantages, and limitations, as well as directions for future research. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(3)    doi:10.36849/JDD.7603.

Implementation of a Convolutional Neural Network Into an Embedded Device for Polyps Detection

The increasing rates of colorectal cancer and associated mortality have attracted interest in the use of computer-aided diagnosis tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) for the detection of polyps at an early stage. Most AI models are implemented on software platforms; however, due to the demands of embedded devices, hardware implementations have to fulfil the demands of real-time applications with better accuracy and low-power consumption. In this letter, we propose an optimized four-layer network that can be implanted into an embedded device and determine the feasibility of implanting our convolutional neural network (CNN) into a microprocessor. The essential functions of the CNN (i.e., padding, convolution, ReLU, max-pooling, fully-connected, and softmax layers) are implemented in the microprocessor. The proposed method achieves efficient classification with high performance and takes only 2.5488mW at a working frequency of 8MHz. We conclude this letter with a discussion of the results and future direction of research.

Advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging techniques: feasibility and applications in long or post-COVID-19 syndrome - a review.

Long-term or post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a condition that affects people infected with SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19. PCS is characterized by a wide range of persistent or new symptoms that last months after the initial infection, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, and pain. Advanced magnetic resonance (MR) neuroimaging techniques can provide valuable information on the structural and functional changes in the brain associated with PCS as well as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we discuss the feasibility and applications of various advanced MR neuroimaging techniques in PCS, including perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), functional MR imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and tractography. We summarize the current evidence on neuroimaging findings in PCS, the challenges and limitations of these techniques, and the future directions for research and clinical practice. Although still uncertain, advanced MRI techniques show promise for gaining insight into the pathophysiology and guiding the management of COVID-19 syndrome, pending larger validation studies.

Running in circles: A systematic review of reviews on technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK)

Extensive research exists on the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model and has led to a substantial number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These publications vary greatly in their focus and provide overviews of specific aspects of TPACK research. This paper aims to consolidate these insights and investigate the following research questions: What do systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses reveal about the current state of the art of TPACK research? What is the methodological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of TPACK? This study identified 21 systematic reviews and 2 meta-analyses eligible for analysis. Overall, the review of the reviews revealed that many of the recurring theoretical or methodological issues of the TPACK framework remain unresolved. To address these issues, research on TPACK needs to simultaneously account for the complex, situated, and dynamic nature of TPACK and clarify the concept of professional knowledge. The review engenders several directions for future research, including a better operationalization of knowledge, more experimental and longitudinal studies, and a more comprehensive measurement and integration of student learning as a dependent variable in research on TPACK.

Global status and trends in hepatitis B virus DNA mutation research from 2003 to 2022: A comprehensive bibliometric view

AbstractAimsHepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family. It is a significant contributor to the prevalence of chronic liver disease on a global scale. Mutations in HBV DNA can affect the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Although numerous studies on HBV DNA mutations have been conducted, few bibliometric studies have been performed to date. This study aimed to analyze changes in scientific output to gain a better understanding of the current research status and identify potential new research directions in the field of HBV DNA mutation.MethodsRelevant studies published between 2003 and 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace version 6.1.R6 was used to construct network maps to evaluate collaborations among countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords.ResultsIn total, 1508 publications over the past 20 years were obtained, mainly from China, the United States, and Japan. The major research institutions in China included the University of Hong Kong, Fudan University, and Peking University. Lai Ching Lung was the most productive author, whereas Anna Suk‐Fong Lok was the most frequently co‐cited author. The keyword “HBsAg” was the strongest burst keyword in recent years, indicating possible future study trends.ConclusionsThis bibliometric analysis intuitively revealed the overall research status of HBV DNA mutations, providing valuable information for researchers, funding agencies, and policymakers to explore the current research status, research hotspots, and new directions for future research.

Exploring the Underlying Constructs of Rape-Related Cognition Scales and Their Relationships With Sexual Aggression.

Rape-related cognitions (typically defined as encompassing any number of cognitive constructs) are thought to play a role in sexual aggression. However, rape-related cognition scales often assess these cognitive constructs as one. The purpose of this study is to explore the factor structure of these measures using a sample of 191 community men. We found that items from the Rape Myth Acceptance, RAPE, and Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance (IRMA) scales formed one factor, which was significantly related to sexual aggression. We further found that four and six IRMA subscales were significantly related to past and likelihood of sexual aggression, respectively. Additionally, one IRMA subscale was independently related to past and likelihood of sexual aggression. The results are discussed in terms of implications and direction for future research.

Research progress on aluminum matrix composites reinforced by medium and high volume fraction hybrid particles

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced with particles offer many advantages, including high specific strength, elevated specific stiffness, reduced thermal expansion coefficient, enhanced thermal conductivity, abrasion resistance, and dimensional stability. These composites find extensive application in aerospace, electronic packaging, and weaponry. The concept of hybrid particle reinforcement, involving multiple reinforcing particles, optimizes the performance attributes of each phase and the synergistic reinforcement effect, leading to potentially superior hybrid particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the methods for preparing particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. It examines the toughening mechanisms in aluminum matrix composites reinforced with hybrid particles at medium and high volume fractions. These mechanisms include fine grain reinforcement, Orowan reinforcement, and heterogeneous deformation-induced reinforcement, including geometrically necessary dislocation reinforcement. This paper elucidates the role of micronano organizational structures-such as the morphology, size, distribution, and interfacial bonding state of hybrid particles and matrix-in determining the comprehensive performance of aluminum matrix composites. Additionally, it explores the effect of hybrid particle morphology, size, distribution, and micronano structure on the composite’s overall performance. Finally, future research directions and trends in the development of high-performance hybrid particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites are discussed.

Exploring the relationship between usage of social networking sites, cyberbullying and academic performance: Evidence from the higher education sector of Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the use of social networking sites (SNS), cyberbullying (CB) and academic performance (AP). Firstly, we investigate the direct relationship between the use of social networking sites (Instagram, Facebook and TikTok) and academic performance. Secondly, the relationship between the use of social networking sites (Instagram, Facebook and TikTok) and cyberbullying is explored. Thirdly, linkages between cyberbullying and academic performance are examined. Lastly, the mediating effect of cyberbullying in the relationship between the use of social networking sites and academic performance is tested. In this study, we used quantitative survey analysis. We collect data using the research questionnaire from the graduate and postgraduate students enrolled in the universities located in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2.2. The findings demonstrate that in direct relationships, Facebook and TikTok have a significant relationship with academic performance. However, in the direct relationship, Instagram has an insignificant relationship with academic performance. Similarly, the outcomes confirmed that Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have a significant relationship with cyberbullying. Furthermore, the outcomes indicate that cyberbullying has a negative impact on academic performance. Finally, the results of this study indicate that cyberbullying negatively mediates the relationship between the use of social networking sites and academic performance. At the end of the study, we have toughly discussed the conclusion, limitations and future research directions.

Hypertension, Neurodegeneration, and Cognitive Decline.

Elevated blood pressure is a well-established risk factor for age-related cognitive decline. Long linked to cognitive impairment on vascular bases, increasing evidence suggests a potential association of hypertension with the neurodegenerative pathology underlying Alzheimer disease. Hypertension is well known to disrupt the structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature. However, the mechanisms by which these alterations lead to brain damage, enhance Alzheimer pathology, and promote cognitive impairment remain to be established. Furthermore, critical questions concerning whether lowering blood pressure by antihypertensive medications prevents cognitive impairment have not been answered. Recent developments in neurovascular biology, brain imaging, and epidemiology, as well as new clinical trials, have provided insights into these critical issues. In particular, clinical and basic findings on the link between neurovascular dysfunction and the pathobiology of neurodegeneration have shed new light on the overlap between vascular and Alzheimer pathology. In this review, we will examine the progress made in the relationship between hypertension and cognitive impairment and, after a critical evaluation of the evidence, attempt to identify remaining knowledge gaps and future research directions that may advance our understanding of one of the leading health challenges of our time.